It was nice to have a full day off. She loved her job, but there were times when a patient’s story was hard to disassociate from. Her mom always said that was what made her a good therapist, and her mom could be right, but that didn’t make sleeping any easier.
Chay was chopping wood outside his home when she pulled up. He lived a bit remotely, but she liked it. The rustic cabin felt like it was part of the landscape. Smoke was coming from the chimney, and the scent of a fresh pine fire was in the air. He put his ax down and came over to greet her as she hopped down from the driver’s side.
“You made good time,” he said.
“Got a bit of a lead foot when I’m on the highway. Know better than to speed in town.”
He smiled at that and opened the back door to lift Gracie’s carrier out of the car seat. “How you doing today, yazhi?”
“Yazhi?”
“Little one.”
“I like it,” Ava said, following him up the natural stone steps into his cabin. She sat on the bench near the door to take off her boots as she took in the open-plan space. She could see a breakfast bar with the kitchen behind it. The living and dining rooms flowed into each other. One wall was dominated by bookcases and a stone fireplace. Another one was floor-to-ceiling glass doors that let the landscape serve as all the art the room needed.
There was a large leather couch, some side chairs and a big recliner next to a side table that had a coffee mug and some books on it. She suspected that was where he sat.
The Navajo blanket over the back of the couch looked very similar to the one that Gracie had been wrapped in.
“I know you wanted me to show you around, but I thought we’d start with my place. Give you a chance to stretch your legs before we do more driving. Also, Gracie might need to get out of the car seat.”
“She does,” Ava agreed, taking the carrier from him and getting the baby out of it. Waking up, she was always sort of all mushy and sweet. Her eyes blinked a few times as she yawned and stretched. “I’ll need to change her diaper.”
“There’s a bathroom down that hall.” He pointed to it.
Taking a diaper and wipes out of the bag she’d brought in with her, she went to change Gracie. The bathroom had a natural wood countertop that had been treated to be water resistant, and there were double sinks. The floor was the same stone that was in the rest of the house, and the rug under her feet had the repeated motifs she’d seen on the blanket.
Talking to Gracie as she changed the baby. “We’re at your uncle Chay’s house. I think you’re going to like it here. We’ll find out more about the motifs that were on your blanket. He has a bunch in this house.”
The baby made a cooing, questioning sound, which Ava responded to before tickling her little feet and getting her back into her clothes. Today Ava had her dressed in a pair of overalls with a long-sleeved onesie underneath. She wore socks that matched.
“There you go.”
Hurrying back out, she noticed Chay had set the blanket on the floor in the living area and poured two cups of coffee. “Figured she’d want to play…is that the right word for a baby her age?”
“It works. She is currently a big fan of trying to eat her toes. I have some toys in the diaper bag as well,” Ava said. He was already halfway to being a good carer for Gracie. But she knew she was drawing connections that might not be there. He’d also gotten her coffee and had just made the living room ready for both of them.
Ava cautioned herself so she didn’t push too hard, but it was difficult as she observed Chay with Gracie. When she saw something that she knew was right, there was no stopping her.
Chay got the bag and brought it over as she set Gracie in the middle of the blanket. They placed a soft book and a giraffe that jingled when it shook next to her, along with some teething keys.
Chay went back to his recliner, and Ava took a seat on the couch close to Gracie.
“So what did you have in mind?” he asked as she got comfortable on the couch.
“I’ve never been out here before. I would like to see the community where she’ll be raised. Have you thought any more about raising her yourself?” Ava tried to be nonchalant about it. Like she hadn’t broached this subject with him more than once before.
He tilted his head to the side, giving her a narrow look. “I don’t need to. I’ve already told you I’m not doing that.”
She tried to look serious as she nodded at him. “I respect that. But can I point out that you are doing a lot of things that a dad would do?”
“You can point out whatever you want to. Doesn’t mean you’re right.”
“Agree to disagree,” she said lightly. She’d given it her best shot and his answer was still no.
“Are you going to be like this all day?” he asked, and she could tell she’d pushed his last button.
“Maybe.”
